Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-02-17

Description af a VISIT to the Museum q
the University of PerugiaS.

DESCRIPTION on a VISIT Co the HHSEEuz at
the University of Perugias.
The chief interest Of this nFSeu1n is
in the relics taken from old Etrusean
tombs that have been found iZsssi,s she
neighborhood of Peruuia- A vast rum
Der of these were but einerary ursls or
chests, with sculptored lids and sides,
in which had been treasured oaIy the
ashes of the dead; for it would seefla 30
have been the custom among this peo-
pie. in the age when these tonsbs were
prepared, to burn, rather thar bury,
their dead. This. however, couId not
have been altogether the custom. for
there were here also a good mary
stone collins, all found Just absat Pc
rugia- which was one of the y twelve
cities of the ETuscan confederation.
In several of these the skeletonsof the
entire body buried was vet remaining.
Some of these were evidently those of
great ladies, Princesses. perhaps. who
had been buried in fine attire and
adorned with abundant IewelEy-
Their mirrors. lamps. pans fer food.
and kind Of saucer. for sacrifice or
incense. and especially thsir- per-
fume bottles doubtless well filed at
the time of their buria0 were inciosed
in the coffin with them and rsnaira be
side them. as they were Inferred. more
than two thousand years ag@a L saw
in cases here hundreds and hundreds OF
these little perfume bottles. They hsyT
been called tacramatories. and hsry {
been supposed TO have contained Il II
tears shed on the occasion CT the des I'll
of the one intombed. and bottled uo a.
an epitaph or everlasting testimony tt
their virtues or the affection with VT licf
they have been regarded. hut Z 1lavt
been assured by those muaza zmore
earnest in these matters thar 90 ysel,
that these were perfunaer beth es OIL
deodorizers of the close air ct then
small sleeping apartments 10 which
they had been consigned. In one coffin
the immense gold ear-riags-of m ost ele-
giant workmanship, which had dropped
from the ears. were lying rs they had
been found Great HambeHs of such
ornaments were 20 be seen preserved
IN eases under glass.
The head of the Melalsa with it's carls
of snakes is the one device which pre-.
| walls more than any. sEher on these ole
tombs, and this is at present la tn.
fashionable jewelers. shops OF Rome the
! favorite design. the newest fashion fol
camel. oxydized SILVER cloak and bel
! clasps. and various ornaments O
ladies' wear. Europa crossing tn.
BospAorus. as Tannyson Describes her
with cher mantle back from he
shoulders borne and her hand clasp
ing 1.-The mild bulls goIden horn" il
another picture often repeazed on thes'
| aid Etrusean tombs. Serpents
dragons. grifins and things mos
horrid are oft-repeated symbols o
Etruscan ideas of death. I coult
not but contrast taem with tn
rude sculptures, yst sweet an,
simple Inscriptions. on the tomb
of the eatacombs-such as 'sTh
Good Shepherd bearing on his shoul
ders lamb over the river of death, tn
dove with an olive branch in its mouth
sometimes ON the back OF fish, swim
ming smoothly over the waters of til
dark ocean to show that it is not TO b
feared but is as the native element t
the soul set free from the body perhap
by cruel martYrdom. Then the in